“What a day! Over 40,000 people poured into the streets of Washington, DC today to push President Obama to take our nation “Forward on Climate” and say no to the Keystone XL pipeline.”

Photo by Kandi Mossett

[From HuffPost]

In his 2013 State of the Union Address, President Obama said, “We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science — and act before it’s too late.” However, the President has yet to take a stand on key climate changing proposals such as the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking, and other devastating projects.

Along with the rally in Washington, D.C., environmental groups planned simultaneous rallies in cities across the U.S. A rally in Los Angeles, California, organized by a coalition of over 90 groups, was expected to be the largest climate change rally ever staged in Los Angeles, according to an emailed Statement from the Sierra Club.

LOS ANGELES CLIMATE RALLY – FEBRUARY 17, 2013

LA ForwadOnClimate Rally, Photo by Paul Seesequasis

350.org founder Bill McKibben said at the rally “For 25 years our government has basically ignored the climate crisis: now people in large numbers are finally demanding they get to work.” He added, “We shouldn’t have to be here — science should have decided our course long ago. But it takes a movement to stand up to all that money.”

Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke argued, “The time is right for this rally.” In the wake of Obama’s comments on climate change in his State of the Union Address, Beinecke wrote, “We want him to know that when he takes these bold actions to stabilize the climate, the American people will support him every step of the way.”

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EcoPeace Middle East is a unique organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists. Our primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect our shared environmental heritage